Abdulmalik Tanko Makes U-turn, Denies Killing Hanifa Abubakar

Abdulmalik Tanko, the alleged killer of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, on Monday denied killing the victim and pleaded not guilty.

Tanko who was accused of kidnapping and killing Hanifa denied the allegations levelled against him and two others in court.

The suspect had abducted Hanifa and subsequently killed her after demanding N6m ransom, at Dakata, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Tanko when paraded at Kano State Police Command had confessed that he kidnapped Hanifa and killed her with N100 rat poison before burying her remains in a shallow grave in one of his schools.

Tanko at the continuation of the trial denied the allegations that Hanifa was poisoned and buried in a school.

The suspects only responded to one-third of the charges read to them, which was a conspiracy.

Fatima who was one of the suspects denied allegations read to her that she wrote a letter to Hanifa’s parents, stating that a ransom of N6 million was required on behalf of Abdulmalik Tanko

The prosecution counsel led by Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Musa Lawan, asked the court to allow them to present their evidence at the next hearing.

The presiding Judge, Justice Usman Naabba adjourned the case till March 2 and 3 for hearing.